​Russian media watchdog blocks Bitcoin sites

Roskomnadzor, Russia’s media regulator, has blacklisted several bitcoin information and resource sites in accordance with a court ruling last September.

The five websites,
including popular cryptocurrency community bitcoin.org, sponsored
by the Bitcoin Foundation, were entered into Roskomndazor’s
blacklist of banned websites on Tuesday. Bitcoin.org promotes the
benefits of bitcoins and provides information on how to obtain
and use the virtual currency for both individuals and
businesses.

The four other blocked sites include Russian-language forum
btcsec.com, Wikipedia-style information site bitcoin.it, Russian
bitcoin community coinspot.io as well as exchange service
indacoin.com.

Roskomnadzor spokesperson Vadim Ampelonsky told TJournal, a
Russian tech and internet news site, that the ban was the result
of a September 30 court decision.

Bitcoin’s use has been under threat in Russia as its legal status
has grown murkier over the course of the past year. Last January,
Russia’s Central Bank (CBR)issued a statement, warning against
the use of virtual currencies due to potential ties to “money
laundering or terrorist activities.” The Central Bank also
said that bitcoin usage was illegal under Russian federal law.

In February, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office also came out
against the cryptocurrency, saying: “Russia’s official
currency is the ruble. The introduction of other types of
currencies and the issue of money surrogates are banned,”
discouraging the use of virtual currency by individuals or
corporations.

Just last month, however, Russia’s Ministry of Economic
Development has said that banning bitcoins and other cash
equivalents would hurt the Russian economy including telecom
operators, retailers and banks.